[mrclassic550]

We keep our sleds at our winter cabin. We have two sleds, both 2005's with 550 fan engines. I did not prep the sleds at all for summer . This means they have been sitting in the garage with at least 1/2 tank of 4-5 month old 87 octane gas. Not only is the gas probably bad, but my understanding is all the gas in the carb has evaporated, leaving old oil in there. I have not been to the cabin all summer so I havn't tried starting the sled or anything, so i dont know how it will be or the exact condition of the sled. Do you guys think i will need to clean my carb and if so how do I do it? Also, do I need to remove the old gas out of the sled, and how do I do that too? Thanks a lot -rob

 

[xcbullet]

It shur would be a good idea to siphin the gas out & put it in your truck.If you clean the carbs you dont have to take the slides apart just take the bowl off, the needle out be careful not to loose the small white plastic thing,then spray all the jets & blow it out.What can happen is that gas gets crusty on the bottom of bowl, most the time it will stay there but if it dont it can plug stuff up,best to get it out .But I do no some that get away with doing nothing,but I dont like to take that chance.

 

[Alleycat35]

Hey this reminds me of that commercial for Stabil :doh:

 

[michahicks]

People may disagree, but betting you are OK. Fuel in gas tank likely kept the float bowls full unless you turned the fuel off (especially if the rear of the sled was elevated). If in doubt, and you want to clean the carbs, you could run some Sea Foam or similar through them. Bike/boat guys have been doing this for years, but I don't hear about it much with the snowmobilers. No idea why. Stuff works great.

On the stale fuel, I have stored my sleds with full tanks for many years with no incidents. Guess it wouldn't hurt to siphon of what you can and fill with fresh, but I wouldn't, not for a trail sled anyway.

 

[AKRAY4PLAY]

you won't have any problems. the oil is injected into the intake port not the carbs. this means there is no oil in the carbs. yes the floats are probably evaporated dry. just blow into the fuel tank breather line, little 1/16" line on top the tank near the handle bar post. a little pressure on the tank for 30-45 seconds will re-fill the carbs and make starting easier, 3-4 pulls instead of 30-40. fill your tank with premium pump gas and you're set. been storing my sleds like that for 25 years and haven't had a problem yet.

 

[jbshocks]

the carbs may or may not have green slime. I would pull them

 

[catcando]

I think it comes down to PM work here. It's still warm and you're not itching to ride so while you have the time pull and clean the carbs. I would just buy high octane 93 gas and fill the tank up the rest of the way. Sitting for 6 months is not going to kill the gas. While you're at it grease the machine up!

 

[twitch54]

Originally posted by AKRAY4PLAY@Sep 30 2005, 10:01 AM
you won't have any problems. the oil is injected into the intake port not the carbs. this means there is no oil in the carbs. yes the floats are probably evaporated dry. just blow into the fuel tank breather line, little 1/16" line on top the tank near the handle bar post. a little pressure on the tank for 30-45 seconds will re-fill the carbs and make starting easier, 3-4 pulls instead of 30-40. fill your tank with premium pump gas and you're set. been storing my sleds like that for 25 years and haven't had a problem yet.
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[/quote]
storing them for twenty five years that way and youre only 31 !!! duh !!!!! play it safe dude, clean the carbs(no big deal), put that old gas in you lawn mower, and by all means be sure you grease all the fittings on the sled, clean and inspect clutches, etc.

 

[jeff_g]

I say a little Sea Foam, fill the remainder of the tank with fresh gas and CLEAN YOUR CARBS.

Jeff

 

[AKRAY4PLAY]

Originally posted by twitch54@Sep 30 2005, 09:16 AM
storing them for twenty five years that way and youre only 31  !!! duh !!!!!
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[/quote]

yep, been riding since i was 3 and helping wrench since i was 6. i'm lucky enough to live where we have a 7 month riding season.

feel free to pull the carbs apart, doesn't hurt anything. i'm just betting that he'll find nothing wrong with them. i've never had a problem with storage for the summer. if they were sitting for a couple years, then stuff grows where it shouldn't. with oil injection, the carbs and fuel lines only see gas. the older sleds with pre-mix were much more of problem for jelling and varnishing.

 

[jeff_g]

Originally posted by AKRAY4PLAY@Sep 30 2005, 02:32 PM
yep, been riding since i was 3 and helping wrench since i was 6. i'm lucky enough to live where we have a 7 month riding season.

feel free to pull the carbs apart, doesn't hurt anything. i'm just betting that he'll find nothing wrong with them. i've never had a problem with storage for the summer. if they were sitting for a couple years, then stuff grows where it shouldn't. with oil injection, the carbs and fuel lines only see gas. the older sleds with pre-mix were much more of problem for jelling and varnishing.
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[/quote]


While I think in most case your right, I have learned it is the few times that you run into problems that will ruin your day.

I have been maintaining about six sleds every year for the last ten years. I would occasionally let one go by an not clean the carbs. Burnt one down due to a clogged jet, another time sat in ten degree weather cleaning carbs in a parking lot when I should have been riding.

It's worth it to me now to clean them at the beginning of the season just for the peace of mind.

Jeff